Irish mom pleads for murder investigation into Michael Dwyer’s death in Bolivia

Michael Dwyer's mother, Caroline, met both the Bolivian ministers and the first Bolivian head of state during their visit to Ireland.

The mother of Michael Dwyer, shot dead six years ago by Bolivian security forces, said she was heartened by the tone of the South American country to proposals for an international investigation of her son’s death.

Caroline Dwyer met both the Bolivian ministers of foreign affairs and defense while they were in Dublin last week with President Evo Morales, the first Bolivian head of state to visit Ireland.

Michael Dwyer and two other men were shot dead during a police operation at a hotel in the city of Santa Cruz in 2009. The Bolivian government claims 24-year-old Dwyer was part of an opposition terrorist group.

The family rejects that and has gathered its own evidence that it says points instead to their son’s summary execution.

Caroline Dwyer said after her meeting, “They told me Mr. Morales had asked them to convey his personal condolences, which was a good start. They said they had a will to have the facts of the case out there, and they would fully cooperate and facilitate an international investigation.”

Mrs. Dwyer said this was in contrast with the Bolivian government’s initial unwillingness to discuss the case with the Irish authorities in 2009, and marked a significant improvement in tone since she met Bolivian government representatives in La Paz in September 2014.

In a separate meeting not attended by Mrs. Dwyer, Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan told Bolivian president Morales that there should be an international investigation into the killing.

“I raised the issue of Michael Dwyer, which is an issue of concern to the Irish government. I reiterated my support for the family’s call for an independent investigation into the death of Michael Dwyer and that there should be an international dimension,” Flanagan said

The Dwyer case was also raised by President Michael D, Higgins, who met the Bolivian president.